LANSING — A 51-year-old Meridian Township man accused of conning Ingham County residents out of more than $300,000haspleaded guilty.

Eric Byrnes, who already owes hundreds of thousands of dollars in cases dating back to 1999, pleaded guilty to three of eight fraud charges in Ingham County Wednesday morning.

In exchange for his guilty plea, the five other charges will be dismissed and prosecutors will not issue charges in three pending cases investigated by police departments at Michigan State University, Lansing Township and Meridian Township.

Byrnes was ordered to pay $336,005.98 in restitution to the victims associated with all of the charges. Those victims will be able to address the judge at sentencing Sept. 13.

Byrnes was arrested in late March in connection to claims that he defrauded investors who loaned him money for a house-flipping business.

Michigan State Police, who investigated complaints alongside the East Lansing and Meridian Township police departments, said Byrnes promised investors a quick return and large interest payment on their loans, but used the money for his own personal gain instead.

The 2017 fraud charges were not new for Byrnes. In 1999, he pleaded guilty to at least three counts of larceny by conversion in Lapeer County and in Clinton County. Those charges were in relation to car sales schemes that cost investors hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Byrnes was ordered to pay $228,000 to his victims in Clinton County, and $386,000 to his victim in Lapeer County. As of November, Byrnes had repaid about $38,000 of the restitution owed in those cases.

The crimes Byrnes pleaded guilty to Wednesday — three counts of false pretenses more than $50,000, but less than $100,000 — are punishable by up to 15 years in prison. However, because Byrnes is being charged as a habitual offender, he could face up to life in prison.

The three cases Byrnes pleaded guilty to involved loans of $64,300, $84,200, and $82,500 from three separate victims.

The $336,005.98 in restitution Byrnes was ordered to repay Wednesday does not affect restitution that may be ordered in cases in Otsego, Shiawassee, or Clinton counties, Ingham County Assistant Prosecutor Danielle Cusson said during Wednesday’s hearing.

Byrnes asked to be released prior to sentencing in order to work, “situate” his family, address some health concerns and obtain counseling. Byrnes said he could obtain work in phone service sales.

He is being held on various bonds in connection with six cases, and remains in the Ingham County Jail.

Cusson opposed Byrnes’ request, citing concerns that Byrnes might repeat the behavior that landed him in court in the first place.